The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, time and again pulled-up for the poor quality of nullah desilting, has now decided to acquire new technology for the work.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, time and again pulled-up for the poor quality of nullah desilting, has now decided to acquire new technology for the work.

It plans to buy a multi-purpose excavator, which can perform the role of three machines.

Called the robotic multi-purpose excavator (RME), this machine, costing Rs5.25 crore, will be acquired within the next six months. The civic body will spend Rs8.17 crore to buy, maintain and operate the machine for the next three years.

The machine can be used for dredging – a common exercise during desilting – as well as cutting trees and lifting heavy objects. However, civic officials clarified that it will not be used to cut trees on the road.

LS Vhatkar, chief engineer, storm water drains (SWD) said: “The acquisition of this machine has been pending for a long time. Currently, we need to use different machines for each function. The RME machine will ensure that we save time, cost and also effort.”

The civic body at present has three dredgers. However, officials said that two of these are on the verge of breakdown.